2 October 2020

Have your say: two shortlisted route options for SH1 Whangārei to Port Marsden Highway

Kia ora,

Today we announced a shortlist of two route options for the SH1 Whangārei to Port Marsden Highway project, with a preferred route to be confirmed by the end of the year.

The SH1 Whangārei to Port Marsden Highway project will provide an upgraded 22km four-lane corridor that will improve transport connections between Auckland and Whangārei. It is part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme’s $6.8 billion investment to save lives, get regions moving and boost productivity in key growth areas.

More information on Whangārei to Port Marsden Highway, including the project background and shortlisted options for consultation can be found here.

Have your say

Go online to www.nzta.govt.nz/w2pmh to provide your feedback today.

Now is the time to have your say on shortlisted route options for the Whangārei to Port Marsden Highway project.

Our initial consultation for this section of SH1 was in August 2017 when we presented four shortlisted route options for public feedback. From that consultation we have identified a ‘hybrid’ option which is a mixture of two route options shortlisted in 2017.

We are also seeking feedback on upgrading the current highway to four lanes, with some sections built offline. While public feedback in 2017 indicated strong support for this option, we need to hear from people who may be new to the project or did not participate in consultation three years ago.

We’re encouraging communities within the Whangārei district, regional road users and visitors to Northland to share their thoughts with us.

Feedback will be open until 23 October 2020.

SH1 Tarewa Road to Toetoe Road

Upgrading the urban section, between Tarewa Road and Toetoe Road will include widening the road to accommodate four lanes. This area is under increasing pressure from development and based on current growth predictions, four lanes are required to meet expected demand in the future.

Upgrading this section to four lanes will allow traffic to flow more smoothly through Whangārei and reduce queuing at key intersections.

Proposed improvements include:
• Intersection improvements such as traffic lights, roundabouts, for improved safety, better connectivity and journey time reliability in urban Whangārei
• A central median barrier to separate north and south bound traffic to improve safety
• A shared path and safer crossing points to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

To have your say on the urban section of the project (Tarewa Road to Toetoe Road) please click here.

SH1 Toetoe Road to Port Marsden Highway (SH15)

Option A: Upgrading the current SH1 to a four-lane highway

Upgrading the existing highway to four lanes, with some sections built offline, received the strongest support during 2017 consultation. An upgraded SH1 will include two lanes in each direction with a centre median barrier. For driveways along the corridor this will mean turning movements will be restricted to left turns only. Intersection upgrades and bridge widening will be required as well as some road realignment to straighten out curves north of Mata.

Option E: Hybrid option (a mix of Option A and Option C from 2017)

A hybrid option has been identified in response to strong support for Option A during consultation in 2017, coupled with a need to reduce effects on the environment as much as practicable. An area with high environmental value is the coastal marine area at Oakleigh.
The hybrid option proposes an online widening of the existing state highway to four lanes (Option A), with a short section built offline to the west of SH1, avoiding the coastal marine environment.

To have your say on two route options for the rural section (Toetoe Road to Port Marsden Highway), please click here.

More information

For more information on the SH1 Whangārei to Port Marsden Highway project, contact us at W2PMH@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/w2pmh